Story: Samuel Nana Effah Obeng

Municipal Health Director (M.H.D) of the Komenda Edina Equafo Abirim (KEEA) Municipality in the Central Region has disclosed that the lack of water flowing through the taps of indigenes is a major cause of cholera outbreak in the municipality. 

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Ocean 1/ Ahomka FM , Mr. Martin Sumani Daanko noted that  some cases recorded from November 2024 and January this year has shown that, owing to the inadequate flow of water in the municipality, indigenes resorted to multiple water sources for various purposes, most of which were not conducive for consumption. 

Mr. Daanko said one of the cases recorded included an indigene who used the same sea water he defecated in, to wash his hands whiles at the shore. This he said was a clear case of being infected by the cholera bacteria.

Mr. Martin Daanko also hinted that, other indigenes who stored the little water they had from their taps in gallons unfortunately got them contaminated either during the storage process or when fetching the water. 

To this end, he  advised indigenes to practise the regular washing of hands at all times to prevent the rapid spread of the bacteria. 

For her part, a local “chopbar” operator at Iture, a suburb of Elmina, called on the Ghana Water Company to provide water to the various communities always. 

Maa Joe brought to light that owing to the water shortages in the area, the little water she stores for her clients in the “veronica buckets” was  being abused by passersby who needed water to wash their hands. 

She further indicated that, owing to the need to prioritise  the safety of her clients, she has asked her daughter to be taking money from clients and giving them changes where necessary. 

This, she implemented owing to the fact that, she may not know where a particular client may be coming from and does  not want to compromise the safety and health of her clients.